The Hobbit movie(s) anticipation thread

[Lasciel]

@Ludovic

I hope not. The sickly-green stuff Jackson used to represent ghosts and the necromantic was one of the biggest drawbacks to the trilogy, one I hope Jackson won’t inflict on us again.

Which isn’t to say that it’s bad by itself: it just doesn’t go well with the rest of the cinematography at all.

I don’t mind Minas Morgul so much. I like that sort of visual creepitude.

The whole Way of the Dead section (especially the extended edition version) I do my level best to forget happened in the film at all.

“Scull Avalanche” sounds like the name of a marginally creepy island inhabited by a crochety old ex-sailor who pretends to ex-piracy in a Hardy Boys Adventure novel, not an action-point description for what should have been a rather serious side-quest with a decent expectation of death and utter spiritual desolation - and that’s if it ended WELL!

[Ratcatcher]

@mlees

Yes. There was (limited) dwarf humor in the LOTR movies too. So?

I thought the singing was a somber dirge… Did I miss some other song?

Let me repeat: I felt that the BOOK, The Hobbit, to be more… aimed at kids… than LOTR. The style of writing, the language used. It’s been 5 or 6 years since I’ve read it, but I do remember having that opinion when I finished it.

The movie (based on the trailer) may not match the tone (I described) of the book.

You think it will be a mad cap comedy?

No “opinion” here, The Hobbit was aimed at children. However, I think they decided to make the movie more in line with the LOTR films. The basic story will be followed, but it’ll be less fairy tale-like. I don’t even expect the eagles to speak in the film.

[mlees]

@Ratcatcher

No “opinion” here, The Hobbit was aimed at children. However, I think they decided to make the movie more in line with the LOTR films. The basic story will be followed, but it’ll be less fairy tale-like. I don’t even expect the eagles to speak in the film.

Thanks.

I apologise to everyone if I worded my question poorly.

[Lasciel]

@Ratcatcher

I don’t even expect the eagles to speak in the film.

Oh bother. I hope they still have the Elder Raven speaking to the Dwarves. That would be a real bummer to me if he didn’t.

[teela_brown]

@Lasciel

Oh bother. I hope they still have the Elder Raven speaking to the Dwarves. That would be a real bummer to me if he didn’t.

Yeah - “old Carc”, wasn’t he? Ancient and bald.

I want to read The Hobbit again, but I’m going to wait until late-ish next year to do so.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@kenobi_65

Good point. I would guess that the first movie will end before the Company even reaches Lake-town, much less encountering Smaug.

Smaug could certainly still appear in the first movie, though, such as in a flashback of how he drove the Dwarves out of Erebor and secured his vast hoard.

[carnivorousplant]

@Lasciel

Oh bother. I hope they still have the Elder Raven speaking to the Dwarves. That would be a real bummer to me if he didn’t.

Wagner had the woodbird speak to Siegfried. Let’s hope Peter Jackson has heard the Ring.

[Mahaloth]

@kenobi_65

Good point. I would guess that the first movie will end before the Company even reaches Lake-town, much less encountering Smaug.

Perhaps with Bilbo getting the ring? Is that far enough for the first movie?

@mlees

Based on the new trailer, would you say that Jackson appears to be trying for a “serious” action/adventure fantasy?

I ask, because I felt that The Hobbit, as written, to be more of a young’un fairy tale than the more serious Lord of the Rings or the Simarillion.

I hope he keeps some of the tone of book. It’s hilarious.

[Mrs.Cake]

If they wrap up the first movie with a brief lull following a major action sequence the way FotR and TTT did, maybe the first movie will end at Beorn’s house? That puts three fairly major action sequences (plus whatever non-Hobbit backstory bits in the first film leaving three majors action sequences in the second.

And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot - no sense in diluting the first reveal. If is very effective in the book - should be even more so visually.

[carnivorousplant]

@Mrs.Cake

And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot - no sense in diluting the first reveal. If is very effective in the book - should be even more so visually.

Yep.

[Ludovic]

@Mrs.Cake

And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot

I wonder what dragon in the D&D mythos would breathe out that.

[Lasciel]

@Ludovic

I wonder what dragon in the D&D mythos would breathe out that.

Moonstone? Capiz-shell just doesn’t seem substantial enough.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@mlees

Oropher himself had come from Valinor

Cite? Everything I’ve read indicates he was a Sindarin, possibly a kinsman of Thingol, who resided in Doriath and never went to Valinor with Olwë.

[simster]

@Qadgop_the_Mercotan

Cite? Everything I’ve read indicates he was a Sindarin, possibly a kinsman of Thingol, who resided in Doriath and never went to Valinor with Olwë.

only on the SDMB folks, only on the SDMB.

[Bridget_Burke]

@Mrs.Cake

…And they should definitely leave any reveal of Smaug for movie two. He’s the major money shot - no sense in diluting the first reveal. If is very effective in the book - should be even more so visually.

After the first movie is released, they could begin teasing us with glimpses of the dragon. And snippets of That Voice…

[Mahaloth]

Smaug is kind of like the Balrog from Fellowship. It’s better not to see it before you enter the theater.

I remember the anticipation in the theater as the crowd knew the Balrog was coming. People went “whoa!!!” when he finally appeared and roared. It wasn’t the special effect. It was just really well handled.

[squeegee]

@Mahaloth

Smaug is kind of like the Balrog from Fellowship. It’s better not to see it before you enter the theater.

I remember the anticipation in the theater as the crowd knew the Balrog was coming. People went “whoa!!!” when he finally appeared and roared. It wasn’t the special effect. It was just really well handled.

Yeah, I remember seeing that in the theater and my internal reaction was “OMG OMG OMG OMG awesome awesome awesome awesome Squueeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” or something to that effect. Great reveal.

[jayjay]

@squeegee

Yeah, I remember seeing that in the theater and my internal reaction was “OMG OMG OMG OMG awesome awesome awesome awesome Squueeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” or something to that effect. Great reveal.

And then the Wing/No-Wings people began a pitched battle in the balcony…

[squeegee]

@jayjay

And then the Wing/No-Wings people began a pitched battle in the balcony…

Fuck wings. PJ nailed the “a shadow and a flame” thing pretty damn well in the CG, so I for one can forgive lots of other nitpicky details with that Balrog.

[kenobi_65]

@Mrs.Cake

If they wrap up the first movie with a brief lull following a major action sequence the way FotR and TTT did, maybe the first movie will end at Beorn’s house? That puts three fairly major action sequences (plus whatever non-Hobbit backstory bits in the first film leaving three majors action sequences in the second.

Given that one of the dwarves is apparently shown covered in spider webs in the trailer, I’m guessing that they at least make it into Mirkwood, if not to the Elven-King’s home.